Fire engulfs Dubai high-rise hotel

A huge fire has engulfed a high-rise hotel in central Dubai near the world's tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, reports BBC. Burning debris could be seen falling from the 300m-tall (1,000-feet) building. The government says there are minor injuries and most of the fire is under control. The blaze erupted ahead of a major New Year's Eve fireworks display, due to be held at the Burj Khalifa. There is no indication so far as to the cause of the blaze.
Up to two million people are expected in central Dubai for the fireworks. Crowds gathering to watch the display have been asked to leave the area around the Address Hotel. Officials insist that the New Year celebrations will continue as scheduled. Flames rapidly engulfed much of the building, a five-star hotel and apartment complex with more than 60 storeys, within 10 minutes. The Dubai government tweeted  that the fire had started on the 20th floor and has now been mostly been extinguished. However eyewitnesses say the fire is still raging despite the speedy response of the emergency services.
A tourist, Michelle Duque told the BBC: "All of a sudden we saw this huge black plume of black smoke coming between the Khalifa Tower and the hotel. "The flames burst out really big and before we knew it the whole of the Address Hotel was covered in orange flames." Another tourist told the BBC that she saw lot of debris coming down from the building. "The problem is millions of people inside the Burj Khalifa cannot move anywhere because we [are] kind of waiting for the fireworks display."

Fire engulfs Dubai high-rise hotel

A huge fire has engulfed a high-rise hotel in central Dubai near the worlds tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, reports BBC. Burning debris could be seen falling from the 300m-tall (1,000-feet) building. The government says there are minor injuries and most of the fire is under control. The blaze erupted ahead of a major New Years Eve fireworks display, due to be held at the Burj Khalifa. There is no indication so far as to the cause of the blaze. Up to two million people are expected in central Dubai for the fireworks. Crowds gathering to watch the display have been asked to leave the area around the Address Hotel. Officials insist that the New Year celebrations will continue as scheduled. Flames rapidly engulfed much of the building, a five-star hotel and apartment complex with more than 60 storeys, within 10 minutes. The Dubai government tweeted that the fire had started on the 20th floor and has now been mostly been extinguished. However eyewitnesses say the fire is still raging despite the speedy response of the emergency services. A tourist, Michelle Duque told the BBC: All of a sudden we saw this huge black plume of black smoke coming between the Khalifa Tower and the hotel. The flames burst out really big and before we knew it the whole of the Address Hotel was covered in orange flames. Another tourist told the BBC that she saw lot of debris coming down from the building. The problem is millions of people inside the Burj Khalifa cannot move anywhere because we [are] kind of waiting for the fireworks display.